SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- 10th-ranked Morningside College remained the hottest team in the Great Plains Athletic Conference as the Mustangs shot 67.9 percent from the floor in a 106-85 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan at Allee Gym in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Mustangs (19-3, 11-3) have now won 12 of their last 13 games and remain just a half game out of first place in the league standings.  NWU falls back below .500 at 9-10, 6-8 GPAC.

Nebraska Wesleyan had the opposite start to Saturday's game as they did on Wednesday as the shooting was not nearly as good.  The Prairie Wolves fell behind 5-0 early and trailed by as many as 10 points less than 10 minutes into the game.  Morningside got up as many as 13 points in the first half before NWU cut the lead to five at half trailing 51-46.

As hot as the Mustangs were in the first half, they were even better in the second half missing just eight total shots in the half (22-30).  The majority of the Morningside baskets came on easy layups in the paint as they outscored the Prairie Wolves 56-34 in the paint.

Kyle Nikkel was nearly unstoppable inside for Morningside as he had a game-high 27 points.  Nikkel was 11-13 from the field and 5-6 at the free throw line.  Steve O'Neill also had a big game scoring 25 points with seven assists.  Andrew Christen had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

NWU got a 3-pointer by Trey Bardsley early in the second half to cut the lead to three points, but Morningside went on a 13-2 run to get back to a double digit lead.

The Prairie Wolves could not get stops on defense, and hit just 4-12 from 3-point range in the 2nd half.  NWU finished the game at 46.2 percent from the floor.

Byron Thompson had a career-high 26 points to lead the Prairie Wolves.  He was 8-11 from the field, 3-5 from 3-point range and 7-9 at the free throw line.  Thompson also had five steals and three assists.

Trey Bardsley scored 20 points, making 4-10 from long range with Travis Giesselmann chipping in 14 points.  Jake Miller came off the bench for 11 points.